Red Squad
Michael Katelman will direct for Hannibal Pictures. The film follows a secret team of mercenaries hired to descend on a Mexican border town and eliminate a drug cartel. Producer Richard Rionda Del Castro says, “Red Squad is the type of action film the market is craving right now, a modern day ‘Magnificent Seven. We love the timely subject matter and the non-stop action of Jorge’s script and are very excited to be working with Michael Katleman, a director whose energy and passion for the project instantly won us over.” (THR)

My Wild Life
Director Phillip Noyce and Nicole Kidman will reunite (they worked on “Dead Calm” many, many moons ago) for a movie based on the life of animal conservationist Dame Daphne Sheldrick. Jeff Stockwell’s script tells of a woman and her husband who “devoted their lives to protecting the animals of Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. Sheldrick is credited with uncovering how to formulate the milk needed to feed orphaned elephants.” (THR)

The Terror Within
We’ve been sent both the artwork and press release for a film being stumped at AFM titled “The Terror Within”. The intriguing project comes hot on the heels of a similar-themed fictional film “The Whistleblower” with Rachel Weisz, so should do well.

New Documentary Film “The Terror Within” Reveals Stark Realities of Whistleblower Retaliation“The Terror Within” documentary film is not for the faint of heart. This incredible true story shocked even seasoned whistleblower advocates with the National Whistleblowers Center (NWC). Whistleblower retaliation has become a fact of life in America. But nothing could prepare Julia Davis for the magnitude of the persecution unleashed against her by the Department of Homeland Security. “I was falsely labeled a Domestic Terrorist, accused of being a convicted murderer, maliciously prosecuted for alleged immigration violations and weapons charges,” recounts Julia Davis. “My only crime was exposing shortcomings in the admission of aliens from terrorist countries into the United States,” she continues.
Julia paid a high price for her vigilance. Instead of investigating Julia’s report to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (FBI/JTTF), validity of which was later re-confirmed in the writings of Osama Bin Laden, the Department of Homeland Security launched 54 investigations against the whistleblower herself. Julia Davis, her family and witnesses were subjected to years of warrantless surveillance (including aerial surveillance with airplanes and Blackhawk helicopters), malicious prosecutions and false imprisonments. The Davis residence was raided with a Blackhawk helicopter and a Special Response Team, their home, film and television office were searched without search warrants. “The government repeatedly broke its own laws,” says Chance Gordon, one of several attorneys who represented the Davises. “Years from now, this case will be studied in law schools,” he asserts.
Four witness deaths surrounding the Davis’ case are amongst the most unsettling aspects of the documentary. “People were terrorized and persecuted, lives were lost, but the government refused to investigate any of these events,” commented BJ Davis, Julia’s husband. “Our faith in the justice system has been severely shaken. On one hand, we have been vindicated and cleared of all false charges. On the other hand, none of the perpetrators have been investigated or held accountable. Years later, witness deaths remain unexplained,” he says.
“The Terror Within” is replete with actual footage of the Blackhawk helicopter/Special Response Team raid of the Davis residence, witness interviews and video depositions of the perpetrators. Amidst many shocking revelations, this documentary film reveals Brittany Murphy’s involvement as a witness in Julia Davis’ case, which caused the star and her significant other to be targeted by the DHS/ICE. Brittany’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, talks about the impact of the government’s retaliation on his daughter. “The Terror Within” provides the missing piece of the puzzle, unveiling the series of events leading up to Brittany Murphy’s tragic death.
“It’s obvious that the government does not intend to investigate themselves,” said Asif Akbar, producer and director of “The Terror Within”. “They want this case to disappear, because its ramifications are so damning for powers that be. We intend to ensure that worldwide audiences find out about these atrocities. This documentary will bring public awareness to this shocking case and to the issue of whistleblower retaliation,” he concluded.
“Whistleblowers in America face increasingly severe retaliation,” said Julia Davis, “prosecutions and investigations against truth-tellers are on the rise. Whistleblower protection laws in their current state are nothing more than a sham, protecting the perpetrators and providing them with ample opportunities to destroy anyone who threatens the status quo. Pending Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) legislation is full of loopholes that would make it even easier for the government to engage in a vendetta against anyone who dares to expose corruption. It’s important for every concerned citizen to realize that things have to change – to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you.”
As John Basil Barnhill famously said, “Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty.” “The Terror Within” strives to eliminate the terror tactics shown in the film by informing and empowering the people.

Madison County
One of the big horror releases of the next year is being shopped around at AFM. Here are some details on it :

Los Angeles, California – Nov 2nd, 2011 – The team behind MADISON COUNTY; Daniel F. Dunn, Eric England & Ace Marrero, is excited to announce that they have teamed up with, James Fler, Managing Partner, at Raven Banner Entertainment. Raven Banner will be handling the international Sales Rights for one of the more anticipated indie horror films of the year, beginning at AFM

Recently world premiering at L.A.’s Screamfest 2011, MADISON COUNTY was the only film of the festival to both sell out, and have an encore screening added. A new poster for the film was released on Monday in preparation for AFM.

MADISON COUNTY is the tale of a group of college students who travel to a remote, mountain town to interview the author of a tell-all book on the accounts of the grisly murders that happened over two decades ago. When the townsfolk deny the events ever happened, the students attempt to uncover the truth on their own.

The Paddy Lincoln Gang
Stealth have announced details of a new flick they’re doing set around the world of rock. Maybe some roll in there, too. Not sure.

The Paddy Lincoln Gang is a feature film which has started principal photography on location in Los Angeles (USA) London (UK) and Leeds (UK).
The film is a feature length re-imagining of the internationally acclaimed 35 minute short film ‘A Night At Robert McAlister’s’, which has already won several International film festival awards directed by Ben Jagger and written by Alistair Audsley Ali

The film follows a week in the life of a rock band on the verge of huge success in Los Angeles, but with a dark secret about to explode…

What makes the film unique is that a full live band, comprising legendary musicians, has been formed to mirror the characters in the film. Songs, specially written for the film/band have also been recorded.

The hugely successful comedy ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ established the notion of a ‘real’ rock band inhabiting a fictional story. The Paddy Lincoln Gang takes this a step further by creating a seriously real band in a seriously exciting (and darkly funny) drama.

The film is at present shooting and will deliver for Q2 2012.

The Wicker Tree
Robin Hardy’s “Wicker Man” follow-up, starring Graham McTarvish and Christopher Lee, is completed – and being shopped at the market.

Woody Allen : A Documentary
Submarine Entertainment and HanWay Films have handed over the U.S. DVD and digital rights to the Robert Weide doco. The movie will be screened in two-parts on American Masters and PBS TV on November 20 and 21. “Although a comedy and film icon, Allen as a person remains a mystery to so many of his fans,” said Mark Kashden, vp of acquisitions at New Video. “The time is right for a retrospective, and director and subject are a perfect match.” (THR)

The Grandmothers
Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, James Frecheville and Xavier Samuel have signed for the Anne Fontaine film about “two childhood friends/neighbors (Watts, Wright) [who] each fall in love with the other’s son, to the disgust of their wives.” (Thompson on Hollywood)

Midnight Delivery
”Game of Thrones” director Brian Kirk is onboard to direct for producer Guillermo del Toro a movie “about a father who becomes a drug mule in order to save his son. The script, written by Neil Cross, is based on del Toro’s idea.” (Thompson on Hollywood)

The Ghostmaker
AFM offering “The Ghostmaker” has premiered it’s official trailer. Pic is a supernatural thriller about a group of college friends who discover a 15th century mechanical coffin that allows them to experience the world as ghosts. “Spotlight did a fantastic job capturing the concept and feel of our movie in the new trailer,” said director Mauro Borrelli. “I’m really pleased with the way they’ve been handling the picture.” “The first trailer we made for BOX OF SHADOWS garnered a lot of attention on the web,” added producer Ed Polgardy. “But now that we have all of our (over 300) visual effects finished, there’s a lot more sizzle available to promote the picture. And the new GHOSTMAKER Trailer does that in spades.” (Dread Central)

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